The Enduring Anger of Black Flag's 'Damaged'
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The Enduring Anger of Black Flag's 'Damaged'

The hardcore punk band's 1981 classic shows the power of anger.

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The Enduring Anger of Black Flag's 'Damaged'
Last.fm

Anger is an emotion that does not incline itself to optimism. The nature of the emotion requires us to be extremely upset at an event, and the paths that anger can take are quite fascinating. Getting angry can also lead to explosive manifestations of animosity, and it reveals a darker side of human nature. Flying into a wild rage involves going into the darkest parts of our personality, and seeing demonstrations of anger can be a terrifying experience. Anger is never a pleasant emotion to experience, and one album that demonstrates this is Black Flag's 'Damaged'.

'Damaged' expressed the rage that punk rock could have when it was released in 1981. 'Damaged' took the hardcore punk genre to violent extremes, as its guitars are the musical representation of anger. The spattering guitars are frothing at the seams with rage, as muddy riffs reek with white-hot bursts of vicious malice. The crushingly heavy guitars devolve into pure dissonance, and they scream at the listener while they're battered with blasts of explosive discord. The guitars on 'Damaged' are a distressing representation of what anger can feel like, and they turn into an onslaught of ebullient rage.

The vocals express overwhelming displeasure, as well. Even though Henry Rollins was 20 when 'Damaged' was released, he commands the album with an exceptional presence. His throaty vocals sound like they were possessed by an impossibly negative ambience, and he is bubbling with unrestrained emotion. The violent passion that Rollins places into his vocals is terrifying to endure at times, and Rollins displays the strife that infects his very being. Certain points of the album feature him yelling in a cacophonous manner, and his tendency to growl shows an uncontrollable anger. Henry Rollins shows what a punk vocalist should aspire to, and he does not hold back in expressing his emotions.

'Damaged' also creates a nasty aura as it progresses. Its raucous guitars combine with howling vocals to create a wild, often disorienting experience. 'Damaged' creates aural stories of misanthropy and hate, and its merciless negativity creates an uncompromising listen. 'Damaged' shows how punk rock can be a terrifying force, as its moments of overwhelming discord creates an unusually frightening atmosphere for the genre. Black Flag makes the listener feel like they have experienced a horrible event, as their rage-filled musings create an album that's full of fury. 'Damaged' invites feelings of nihilistic bitterness, and it becomes sickeningly convincing in its indignation.

In conclusion, 'Damaged' shows the outbursts that come with anger. Its guitars bring a whole new dimension to the genre, as their crushing implementations of dissonance represent the experience of being angry. Henry Rollins' passionate vocals show the struggles that he has dealt with in life, and his young age masks a surprisingly convincing display of outrage. 'Damaged' is also an intense experience, as feelings of hate sputter from its filthy sound. 'Damaged' is a classic display of rage, and its heated sound never fails to alarm its audiences.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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